Cash Transfer Programming in Somaliland

This report brings together reflections from a one-day learning event which took place in Hargeisa in March 2018. Participants reflected on what aspects of cash transfer programming worked well in the 2017 response and what needs to be improved going forward. In addition, there was a discussion about the relationship between gender and cash transfer programming. Highlights included, for example:

• There was consensus that the cash transfers had made a significant difference, that the response was timely and that it had helped save lives and maintain assets.
• Feelings on coordination were mixed. It was felt that coordination had improved over time and the formation of the Cash Working Group had been positive. In contrast, coordination weaknesses led to poor information sharing, inconsistent approaches and instances of duplication.
• It was agreed that targeting of hard to reach areas had not been as effective as it should have been and, as a result, some of the most vulnerable had not been reached. There was a tendency towards “tarmac road bias”.
• Differences in transfer values between agencies were hard to explain when engaging with communities.
• Most people were unclear what gender issues need to be considered in CTPbut assumed that, since their organisations have gender policies, other people were ‘taking care of it’.
This short report has many other useful reflections.